The permanent exhibition at the Dossin Barracks (Kazerne Dossin) in Mechelen (Antwerp Province) is being completely renewed by 2030. The museum devoted to the Holocaust, discrimination and human rights wants to give space to new insights. It also hopes to accommodate visitors' expectations that have changed markedly in recent years. The museum will remain open for the time being.
Today the former Belgian army barracks houses a memorial and museum and documentation centre on the Holocaust and human rights . During the Second World War, when Belgium was again invaded and occupied by the Germans, it served as a transit camp from where Jews and Roma were sent to Nazi concentration camps. Many of those deported did not return. The current permanent exhibition opened together with the museum in 2012. ‘A lot has changed since then,’ says director Tomas Baum.
‘New insights have emerged from new scientific research. One example is the role of the NMBS, Belgium’s state-owned rail company, in the Holocaust. The company was paid to deport people. That is just one of the new historic elements that need to be addressed.’
In addition, visitors’ expectations have evolved. ‘In 2012, smartphones were not as omnipresent as they are today. This has changed the way museum visitors learn as well as their expectations. We must ensure that we can continue to tell the story of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.’
The project will cost €7 million. The Flemish authorities will contribute €4.2 million towards this amount. The city of Mechelen will invest another half a million. Sponsors are still being sought for the remainder.
Flemish PM Matthias Diependaele (Flemish nationalist N-VA) and Flemish culture minister Caroline Gennez (Flemish socialist Vooruit) visited the museum at the end of January.
‘It is important that we continue to tell this story. Not only in order to know our history, but also to learn lessons for the future,’ PM Diependaele said. ‘This means it must be told using the latest techniques. Today, we watch different kind of films than we did 30 years ago.’
‘Today, these lessons are once again very important, given what is happening in the world. We must therefore pass them on to young people and to ourselves. We must bear in mind that sometimes small steps can take us in the wrong direction.’
Museum to remain open in the coming years
Director Baum hopes that the museum will not have to close for too long for the refurbishment. He estimates the work can be completed while the museum is only closed for 3 to 6 months.
‘We are still at the beginning of this project. We are also going to ask visitors what they expect and what they feel the museum currently lacks. We may test smaller trial setups over the course of the coming years.’
During his visit, PM Diependaele also recorded the name of a Holocaust victim. This was part of “Every Name Counts”, a project to keep the memory of every deportee alive. Ms Gennez too recorded a name last year.
Holocaust Remembrance Day
The announcement of the renovation was made on 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On that day in 1945, the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland was liberated by Soviet forces at the end of the Second World War.
An annual commemoration ceremony is also held at the Holocaust memorial at the Dossin Barracks. Various Belgian authorities and a number of ambassadors from foreign countries including the United States and Israel (pictured above) came to lay wreaths.